The only time the Dallas Cowboys had a chance to beat a team three times in one season, they lost.

To the Arizona Cardinals, of all teams.

They get another chance to do it next Sunday against the New York Giants, who set up their third meeting of the season by beating Tampa Bay 24-14.

“We’re looking forward to going down there. We play well there,” wide receiver Amani Toomer said after the Giants’ win in Tampa on Sunday. “We know them, they know us. We even know each others’ backups.”

Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, teams have played three games in the same season 53 times, but only 17 of those included teams that won both regular-season matchups, according to STATS Inc. In 11 of those 17 games, the team that won the first two games also won the third, the last time by St. Louis over Seattle in 2004.

Dallas’ loss to the Cardinals was in the 1998 playoffs after the Cowboys won the two regular-season meetings. That postseason defeat was at Texas Stadium.

But that shouldn’t bother the Giants (11-6), who won their eighth consecutive road game in Tampa on Sunday.

In fact, the last time the Giants lost on the road was opening night in Dallas (13-3), when the Cowboys beat them 45-35 in a game in which New York had a shot until the end. That was before the Giants’ defense came together – it gave up 35 points to Green Bay the next week before turning around, leading the NFL in sacks and carrying the team in those games in which Eli Manning played badly.

Dallas also won 31-20 at Giants Stadium in a game in which the Giants stayed with the Cowboys for a half.

If Terrell Owens’ ankle allows him to play at close to his normal speed, Dallas will have a pretty good edge. Tony Romo’s mobility has given the Giants’ aggressive defense fits – he threw a touchdown pass sidearmed after scrambling to the line of scrimmage at the Meadowlands.

But Manning plays pretty well against the Cowboys. He threw for 312 yards and four TDs in that opening game and won there a year ago.

The Giants also are playing as well now as they have all year, scaring unbeaten New England in the last regular-season game before dominating the Bucs.

The Cowboys don’t have that momentum.

But they have the rest.

They can only hope that the time off gave T.O.’s ankle time enough to heal.

SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY

The Seahawks were 20th in the NFL in rushing during the regular season and ran for just 77 yards in beating Washington on Saturday, not a formula for victory in the Wisconsin winter.

On the other hand, the Packers also are a passing team: more dependent on Brett Favre’s arm than their running game.

Still, Ryan Grant, obtained in a trade with the Giants just before the start of the season, was a pleasant surprise, rushing for 956 yards and a 5.1 yards-per-carry average.

There are plenty of ties between the teams, most notably with Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who took the Packers to Super Bowls after the 1996 and ’97 seasons and winning the first.

He has a street, Holmgren Way, named after him in Green Bay although Lombardi Ave., named after the Packers’ most successful coach, is the main drag.

Both have quick defenses that will pressure the quarterbacks – DE Patrick Kerney was dominating for the Seahawks in Saturday’s game and might force Favre into turnovers. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle’s QB, was drafted by Holmgren with the Packers and obtained by him after he went to the Seahawks.

Hasselbeck is remembered for his call on the coin toss in a 2004 wild-card game in Green Bay, when he proclaimed: “We want the ball and we’re going to score!” after the Seahawks won the coin flip.

Then he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

It may not get to OT next week if Seattle can’t run. But other than Favre, most of the Seahawks have more playoff experience than the young Packers.

JACKSONVILLE AT NEW ENGLAND

The Jaguars, who came back to win 31-29 in Pittsburgh on Saturday after losing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead, already have a reputation as a southern team that plays well in the North.

But beating New England in Foxborough – or anywhere – isn’t the same as winning twice in one season in Pittsburgh.

Certainly, the Jaguars have a chance in Saturday night’s game.

The Patriots had three three-point wins and a four-point victory this season, all games they could have lost. But the fact they won them says a lot – they trailed by 10 points in Indianapolis with 10 minutes to go and won 24-20, then won 38-35 in the regular-season finale at the Meadowlands after trailing by 12 in the third quarter.

The fact that both teams New England beat in those games are among the NFL’s final eight demonstrates that they can get into trouble against good teams and still win.

The Jags’ resilience Saturday night was also impressive.

“The bottom line is we made the plays we needed to make at the times they needed to be made to win the game,” coach Jack Del Rio said.

Against New England?

If Maurice Jones-Drew breaks lose a couple of times, maybe.

But the Jags intercepted Ben Roethlisberger three times and won by just two points in Pittsburgh. Tom Brady threw just eight interceptions all season.

Beyond that is the experience factor again.

The Pats are seeking their third title this decade. The Jaguars’ playoff win was their first in Del Rio’s five seasons as coach.

And to win in Foxborough, they probably have to score 30 points or more, something they’re really not built to do.

Except, perhaps, in Pittsburgh.

SAN DIEGO AT INDIANAPOLIS

The Colts are considered up there with New England: simply better than the rest of the six other teams left. And while they were resting, San Diego was playing and lost one of its top players, tight end Antonio Gates, with a toe injury.

Gates’ status for next Sunday’s game wasn’t immediately known. As was the status of Indy’s star receiver Marvin Harrison, who missed most of the season with a knee injury and didn’t play in the regular-season finale as he was supposed to.

But the Colts had time to work in others to replace Harrison, notably rookie Anthony Gonzalez. Gates’ loss would be as important as Owens’ to Dallas.

On the other hand, the Chargers have some pleasant memories of Indy, winning there 26-17 two years ago when the Colts were 13-0. They did it by applying pressure on Peyton Manning, notably by Shawne Merriman, who used that as a breakout game in his rookie season.

They also may be buoyed by finally breaking through in the postseason after losing at home to New England following a 14-2 finish that earned them the top seed in the AFC. That loss got Marty Schottenheimer fired and Norv Turner the head job.

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